“Trickle-Down Love”

Ezekiel 47:1–12 NIV

  1. Introduction
    1. God’s love can only be stopped at the beginning point, the point of origin.
  2. God’s Love Becomes A River
    1. We Are The Temple Out Of Which God’s Love Flows!

      Ezekial 47:1–2

      The River From the Temple

      1The man brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar. 2He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and the water was flowing from the south side.

      1. Love flows out of humility
      2. Love flows out of holy living
      3. Love always warms
      4. Love flows from an intimate relationship with God
    2. Where Will This Love Take Us?

      vs. 3–8

      3As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits [a] and then led me through water that was ankle-deep. 4He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist. 5He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in—a river that no one could cross. 6He asked me, “Son of man, do you see this?”

      Then he led me back to the bank of the river. 7When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river. 8He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, [b] where it enters the Sea. [c] When it empties into the Sea, [d] the water there becomes fresh.

      1. It will grow to a river
      2. It will flow through the spiritually healthy.
      3. It will flow to the spiritually dry.
      4. It will flow to the depressed.
    3. The Effect of This Love?

      vs. 8b–12

      “ … When it empties into the Sea, [d] the water there becomes fresh. 9Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. 10Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds—like the fish of the Great Sea. [e] 11But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt. 12Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.”

      1. This love will freshen.
      2. This love will bring life.
      3. This love will bear fruit.
  3. Conclusion
    1. This love is an active continuous force! Let’s allow it to flow!